Container with top curved bevelled edge

ABSTRACT

A container ( 10 ) for consumer articles comprises a box portion ( 12 ) and a lid portion ( 14 ) connected to the box portion ( 12 ) along a hinge line ( 16 ) extending across a container back wall. The lid portion ( 14 ) is pivotable about the hinge line ( 16 ) between a closed position and an open position, and comprises a lid top wall ( 30 ), a lid back wall ( 28 ), and a lid back edge portion ( 34 ) connecting the lid top wall ( 30 ) and the lid back wall ( 28 ). The lid back edge portion ( 34 ) extends between an upper edge ( 36 ) of the lid back wall ( 28 ) and a back edge ( 38 ) of the lid top wall ( 30 ). Further, the upper edge ( 36 ) of the lid back wall ( 28 ) and the back edge ( 38 ) of the lid top wall ( 30 ) are curved, the upper edge ( 36 ) of the lid back wall ( 28 ) being convex towards a top of the container when the container ( 10 ) is in the upright position and the back edge ( 38 ) of the lid top wall ( 30 ) being convex towards a front of the container ( 10 ) when the container ( 10 ) is in the upright position and viewed from the top of the container ( 10 ).

The present invention relates to a hinge lid container for consumerarticles, which finds particular application as a container for elongateconsumer good items, such as smoking articles (for example, cigarettes).

Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars are typically packaged inrigid hinge-lid containers. These typically have a box part having a boxfront wall, a box back wall, box side walls and a box base wall. Theyalso usually have a lid part with a lid front wall, a lid back wall, lidside walls and a lid top wall. The lid part is typically hinged to thebox part along a hinge line extending across a back wall of thecontainer. The hinge line is usually provided as a pre-folded line, acrease line or a score line. The bundle of smoking articles housed inthe box part is commonly wrapped in an inner liner, or inner package, ofmetallised paper, metal foil or other flexible sheet material. To accessthe bundle of smoking articles within the inner liner, a consumer shouldremove an upper portion of the inner liner upon first opening of thehinge-lid container.

It is known to round off or chamfer certain corners of the box and lidto give the container a distinctive appearance. This has typically beenachieved in the past by providing lines of weakness, such as creasinglines or score lines, in the blank at the areas forming the edges of thecontainer. These lines of weakness allow the blank to be folded in sucha way that the corner does not sharply bend but instead progressivelybends between two adjacent planar walls.

Further, containers are known, for example from WO-A-2014/206939,wherein the top back edge of the lid portion and the hinge line betweenthe lid portion and the box portion are curved and have substantiallythe same radius of curvature. Thus, a convex shape (when viewed from theexterior of the container) may be formed at the upper end of thecontainer, this shape creating an elastic restoring force that may helpkeep the lid in a closed position.

It would be desirable to provide a novel and improved hinge lidcontainer for consumer articles wherein the lid is easily retained in atightly closed position, such that an accidental opening of thecontainer is less likely to occur. Further, it is desirable to provideone such container for consumer articles that may be manufactured from asingle flexible laminar blank.

In addition, it would be desirable to provide a container for consumerarticles that has a distinctive visual impact and that can easily bemanufactured without requiring any major modification of existingpacking apparatus. Further, it would be desirable to provide a blank formanufacturing one such container that can be easily formed into anassembled container.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda container for consumer articles, the container comprising a boxportion and a lid portion connected to the box portion along a hingeline extending across a back wall of the container, the lid portionbeing pivotable about the hinge line between a closed position and anopen position. The lid portion comprises a lid top wall, a lid backwall, and a lid back edge portion connecting the lid top wall and thelid back wall. The lid back edge portion extends between an upper edgeof the lid back wall and a back edge of the lid top wall. Further, theupper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wallare curved. The upper edge of the lid back wall is convex towards a topof the container when the container is in the upright position andviewed from the back of the container. The back edge of the lid top wallis convex towards a front of the container when the container is in theupright position and viewed from the top of the container.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a blank for forming a container for consumer articles, theblank comprising a box-defining blank portion for forming a box portionof the container and a lid-defining blank portion for forming a lidportion of the container. The box-defining blank portion comprises aback box wall panel for forming a back wall of the box portion and thelid-defining blank portion depends from the box-defining blank portionalong a lid hinge line extending across the back box wall panel. Thelid-defining blank portion comprises a top lid wall panel and a backwall panel for forming a lid top wall and a lid back wall, respectively.Further, the lid-defining blank portion comprises a first line ofweakness defining an upper edge of the lid back wall panel and a secondline of weakness defining the back edge of the lid top wall, anedge-defining blank portion extending between the first line of weaknessand the second line of weakness for forming a lid back edge portion thatconnects the lid top wall and the lid back wall in the assembledcontainer. When the blank is in a flat state, the first line of weaknessand the second line of weakness are both concave towards thebox-defining blank portion.

It will be appreciated that any features described with reference to oneaspect of the present invention are equally applicable to any otheraspect of the invention.

In contrast to conventional hinge lid containers, in containersaccording to the present invention, a lid back edge portion connects thelid top wall and the lid back wall. In more detail, the lid edge portionextends between an upper edge of the lid back wall and a back edge ofthe lid top wall. The upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edgeof the lid top wall are both curved. The upper edge of the lid back wallis convex towards the lid portion of the container, whereas the backedge of the lid top wall is convex towards the front of the container.This may be essentially achieved by forming a pair of curved lines ofweakness in the blank from which the container is formed, both lines ofweakness being concave towards the box-defining portion of the blankwhen the blank is in a flat state. Thus, when a container is formed fromfolding the blank, it is easy to obtain a substantially convex (whenviewed from the exterior of the container) lid back edge portion.

In the assembled container, the lid back edge portion provides for asmooth transition between the curved top edge of the lid back wall andthe curved back edge of the lid top wall, such that the surface of thelid top back edge portion takes on a shape that is essentially convextowards both the top and the front of the lid. Such convex shapedeformation on the lid may advantageously create a physical forwardtension force that leads the lid to have an inclination to bend towardsthe box portion. Consequently, such lid shape configuration tends tokeep the container tightly closed when the hinge lid is in the closedposition. This makes it possible to manufacture from a single blank ahinge lid container for consumer articles, wherein the lid front wallpartly overlies the box front wall. The physical forward tension forcedescribed above advantageously tends to keep the lid front wall lyingagainst the box front wall and so ensures a good closure of thecontainer, such that all parts of the consumer goods are retained withinthe container. For example, when the container is used for smokingarticles, it is advantageously ensured that no tobacco shorts will fallout of the container during transport between uses. At the same time,this configuration makes it much easier for the consumer to hold andopen the container with a single hand, since the lid can conveniently beopened by the lower edge of the lid front wall.

On the other hand, in those embodiments wherein the container comprisesan inner frame including an upper portion extending above an upper edgeof the box portion and defining an abutment surface for the lid, theelastic force created by the convex shape of the lid back edge portionmay advantageously counter any tendency to the so-called “smilingeffect”, that is, the occurrence of a slight misalignment between thelid and the box portions of the container, as the lid front wall restsagainst the upper portion of the inner frame.

The present invention advantageously provides a container with adistinctive visual impact. In addition, in those embodiments where theconvex shape described above is combined with other rounded or chamferedcorners, a particularly ergonomic shape can advantageously be providedfor the consumer.

It is easy to manufacture a container in accordance with the presentinvention from a single laminar blank. In some preferred embodiments,the lines of weakness may advantageously be provided as ablated lines,which makes it easy to form them with great precision. In addition, thisallows the outer surface of the container to maintain a smoothappearance without any ridges or ripples. Thus, the visual and tactileperception of the container is advantageously not impacted.

As used herein, the terms “front”, “back”, “upper”, “lower”, “top”,“bottom” and “side”, refer to the relative positions of portions ofcontainers according to the invention and components thereof when thecontainer is in an upright position with the lid in the closed positionand the hinge line at the back of the container. When describingcontainers according to the present invention, these terms are usedirrespective of the orientation of the container being described. Theback wall of the outer housing is the wall comprising the hinge line.

The term “hinge line” refers to a line about which the lid may bepivoted in order to open the container. A hinge line may be, forexample, a fold line or a score line in the panel forming the back wallof the container. In blanks according to the present invention, thehinge line is clearly distinct from the first line of weakness and thesecond line of weakness which, in the assembled container, define theupper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wall.The hinge line extends across the back wall of the container from oneside wall to the other and is preferably a straight line.

The term “inner surface” is used throughout the specification to referto the surface of a component of the assembled container that is facingtowards the interior of the container, for example towards the consumerarticles, when the container is in the closed position. Likewise, theterm “outer surface” is used throughout the specification to refer tothe surface of a component of the container that is facing towards theexterior of the container. It should be noted that the inside or outsidesurface is not necessarily equivalent to a certain side of a blank usedin assembly of the container. Depending on how the blank is folded,areas that are on the same side of the container can either face towardsthe inside or the towards the outside of the container.

The term “longitudinal” refers to a direction from bottom to top or viceversa. The term “transverse” refers to a direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction.

The term “curved” used in this specification refers to any line which isnot straight. The lines of weakness defining the upper edge of the lidback wall and the back edge of the lid top wall may be any suitablecurve. Preferably, however, the curve has a single maximum or minimumalong its length. That is to say, preferably the curve has a wavelengthequal to or greater than the total curve length. The curve may or maynot have constant curvature along its length. Preferably the curve issymmetrical between the side walls of the container. They may be anysuitable curve, including but not limited to a parabolic curve, ahyperbolic curve, an elliptical curve, and a logarithmic curve.Preferably, the lines of defining the upper edge of the lid back walland the back edge of the lid top wall comprise a circular arc. Acircular arc is a segment of the circumference of a circle.

In this specification, an element, such as edge of a container isdescribed as “convex towards” a reference point if a centre of curvatureof a circular arc equalling or approximating the shape of such elementis in the direction opposite the reference point, such that the elementof the container effectively curves towards the reference point.Reference can be made to the Euclidean definition of a “convex curve” asa curve that lies completely on one side of each and every one of itstangent lines. Thus, it will be appreciated that, in this context, theterm “convex” is used to describe a curve that has a single maximum orminimum along its length. By way of example, in a container an edge ofthe back wall may be convex towards the top of the container when thecontainer is in the upright position and viewed from the back of thecontainer. This means that a centre of curvature of a circular arcequalling or approximating the shape of the edge is towards the bottomof the container. Thus, the edge effectively curves towards the top ofthe container. In a corresponding way, an edge of the top wall of thecontainer may be convex towards the front of the container when thecontainer is in the upright position and viewed from the top of thecontainer. This means that a centre of curvature of a circular arcequalling or approximating the shape of the edge is towards the back ofthe container. Thus, the edge effectively curves towards the front ofthe container.

The term “creasing line” is used herein to refer to a line along thelaminar blank forming the container that has been mechanically deformed,for example by mechanical pressing or rolling, to form a line ofweakness in the blank about which the blank can be folded. Inparticular, a creasing line is a line of weakness that is formed withoutremoving material.

The term “ablated line” is used herein to refer to a line along whichmaterial has been ablated (for example, removed by means of a laser beamor a blade) from a surface of the laminar blank or container.Accordingly, the residual thickness of an ablated line is less than thethickness of the laminar blank. For example, an ablated line may beprovided as a groove within the blank. This may be formed with a linearablation tool, such as a laser or a blade.

The term “residual thickness” is used herein to refer to the minimumdistance measured between two opposite surfaces of the laminar blank orof a wall of the container formed from the blank. In practice, thedistance at a given location is measured along a direction locallyperpendicular to the opposite surfaces. The “residual thickness” of anablated line may be constant over the ablated line if material isremoved homogenously substantially all over the ablated line (flatprofile). Alternatively, the residual thickness of the ablated line mayvary across a width of the ablated line, if material is removednon-homogeneously over the ablated line (e.g. V-shaped, U-shapedgrooves).

A container in accordance with the present invention comprises, in itsmost general terms, a box portion and a lid portion that is pivotableabout a hinge line extending across a back wall of the container betweenan open position and a closed position. The lid portion comprises a lidtop wall, a lid back wall, and a lid back edge portion connecting thelid top wall and the lid back wall. The lid back edge portion extendsbetween an upper edge of the lid back wall and a back edge of the lidtop wall. The upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of thelid top wall are both curved. The upper edge of the lid back wall isconvex towards the lid portion of the container. That is to say, thecentre of curvature of an arc equalling or approximating the curve is inthe direction of the box portion (that is, the bottom of the container),such that the upper edge of the lid back wall curves towards the lidportion. Further, the back edge of the lid top wall is convex towards afront of the container. That is to say, the centre of curvature of anarc equalling or approximating the curve is in the direction of the boxback wall (that is, the back of the container), such that the back edgeof the lid top wall curves towards the lid front wall. Preferably, thecontainer comprises a first line of weakness defining the upper edge ofthe lid back wall and a second line of weakness defining the back edgeof the lid top wall. The lid back edge portion thus essentially extendsbetween the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness andis advantageously easily defined. Because the first line of weakness andthe second line of weakness are pre-formed in the blank from which thecontainer is assembled, upon folding the blank into the desired shapethe lid back edge portion is easily formed with the desired convexshape.

Preferably, the curve defining each one of the first line of weaknessand the second line of weakness has a single maximum or minimum alongits length.

Preferably, at least one of the first line of weakness and the secondline of weakness is defined by a circular arc having constant curvature.

More preferably, both the first line of weakness and the second line ofweakness are defined by respective circular arcs, each circular archaving constant curvature. Thus, each one of the first line of weaknessand the second line of weakness has a single maximum.

Preferably both the first line of weakness and the second line ofweakness are substantially symmetrical between the side walls of thecontainer. Thus, the maxima of the first line of weakness and the secondline of weakness are substantially in alignment with one another withreference to a direction perpendicular to the box front wall and the boxback wall.

In some preferred embodiments, the circular arcs defining the first lineof weakness and the second line of weakness have the same radius ofcurvature. Thus, the first lines of weakness and the second line ofweakness in the blank for forming the container are effectively parallelto one another. In alternative embodiments, the radius of curvature ofthe first line of weakness is greater than the radius of curvature ofthe second line of weakness.

Preferably, a distance between the maximum of the first line of weaknessand the maximum of the second line of weakness is at least about 1millimetre. More preferably, the distance between the maximum of thefirst line of weakness and the maximum of the second line of weakness isat least about 5 millimetres.

In addition or as an alternative, the distance between the maximum ofthe first line of weakness and the maximum of the second line ofweakness is less than about 15 millimetres. The distance between themaxima of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness mayconveniently be measured in the longitudinal direction on the blank inthe flat state.

Preferably, a distance between the maximum of the first line of weaknessand the box back wall is at least about 0.5 millimetres. In addition, oras an alternative, a distance between the maximum of the first line ofweakness and the lid front wall is preferably at least about 2millimetres.

Further, a distance between the maximum of the second line of weaknessand the box back wall is preferably at least about 1 millimetre. Inaddition, or as an alternative, a distance between the maximum of thesecond line of weakness and the lid front wall is preferably at leastabout 1 millimetre.

The distance between the maximum of a line of weakness and the box backwall is substantially the distance between the highest point of the edgedefined by the line of weakness and the plane defined by the box backwall, and is measured along a direction perpendicular to the box frontwall and the box back wall. The distance between the maximum of a lineof weakness and the lid front wall is substantially the distance betweenthe highest point of the edge defined by the line of weakness and theplane of the lid front wall, and is measured along a directionperpendicular to the lid front wall and the lid back wall.

Each one of the first line of weakness and the second line of weaknessmay be formed independently in different suitable ways. Preferably, eachone of the first line of weakness and the second line of weakness isformed as a creasing line or as an ablated line.

Removing material from the inner surface of the blank for forming acontainer according with the invention by means of an ablation tool (forexample, laser, blade) may be convenient. A laser is particularlypreferred as the ablation tool as it can allow for a wide variety ofablation profiles and configurations, with minimal adjustment of thelaser tool being needed. For example, the laser may be repeatedly passedover a given portion of the blank to iteratively remove differentamounts of material, allowing for a very finely controlled ablationprofile.

In some preferred embodiments, both the first line of weakness and thesecond line of weakness are formed as creasing lines. As an alternative,in other embodiments both the first line of weakness and the second lineof weakness are formed as ablated lines.

The first line of weakness and the second line of weakness preferablyeach comprise a circular arc. Preferably, the radius of curvature ofeach of the upper edge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lidtop wall has a length that is between about 0.5 and about 3 times awidth of the container.

In some preferred embodiments, the lid portion of the container furthercomprises a lid front wall connected to the lid top wall by a firstmodified edge portion forming a bevelled edge portion of the container.As an alternative, the first modified edge portion may form a roundededge portion of the container. This is advantageous in that theprovision of a front top edge of the container that is bevelled orrounded imparts the container a particularly ergonomic shape. One suchbevelled lid front edge portion of the container may advantageously beobtained by forming ablation lines on the inner surface of the lid frontedge portion.

In some preferred embodiments, the box portion comprises a box frontwall and the lid portion comprises a lid front wall such that, when thelid portion is in the closed position, the lid front wall overlies anupper portion of the box front wall. These are typically embodimentswherein the container is formed from a single blank (that is, acontainer with no inner frame). Containers in accordance with thepresent invention may, however, also comprise an inner frame. In thatcase, when in the closed position, the lid rests against a portion ofthe inner frame extending above the upper edge of the box front wall,such that the lid front wall is substantially in alignment with the boxfront wall and the container presents to the user a substantially flatsurface.

A container in accordance with the present invention preferablycomprises at least a retention tab extending laterally and outwardlyfrom the box front wall, the retention tab interacting with the lidportion of the container when the lid portion is moved between the openposition and the closed position. This is advantageous in thatcooperation between the retention tab and the lid portion may helpretain the lid portion in the closed position.

More preferably, the lid portion comprises lid side walls extendingbetween the lid front wall and the lid back wall; the lid portionfurther comprising at least a cut out in one of the lid side walls, thecut out interacting with the retention tab when the lid portion is movedbetween the open position and the closed position. For example, theretention tab may be received into the cut out, which may further helpsecure the lid in the closed position. Further, the interaction of theretention tab with the cut out may advantageously be associated with anaudible indication that the lid has been secured in the closed position.

Containers according to the present invention find application ascontainers for consumer goods, in particular elongate consumer goodssuch as smoking articles. However, they can also be used for severalother types of consumer goods.

The blank may be formed from any suitable material or combination ofmaterials, including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard,plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the blank is alaminar cardboard blank having a weight of between about 100 grams persquare metre and about 350 grams per square metre. Preferably, thethickness (T) of the blank is at least about 200 micrometres.

The container may optionally comprise an outer wrapper, which ispreferably a transparent polymeric film of, for example, high or lowdensity polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene,polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film, or combinations thereof and theouter wrapper is applied in a conventional manner. The outer wrapper mayinclude a tear tape. In addition, the outer wrapper may be printed withimages, consumer information or other data.

Further, the consumer articles may be provided within the container inthe form of a bundle wrapped in an inner package formed of metal foil ormetallised paper. The inner package material may be formed as a laminateof a metallised polyethylene film, and a liner material. The linermaterial may be a super-calendered glassine paper. In addition, theinner package material may be provided with a print-receptive topcoating. The inner package has an access opening through which consumergoods can be removed when a lid of the container is in a respective openposition.

The container is preferably a rectangular parallelepiped comprising twowider walls spaced apart by two narrower walls. Hinge lid containersaccording to the invention may be in the shape of a rectangularparallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angledtransverse edges.

Alternatively, the hinge lid container may comprise one or more roundedlongitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinaledges or bevelled transverse edges, or combinations thereof. Forexample, the hinge lid container according to the invention maycomprise, without limitation:

-   -   One or two longitudinal rounded edges on the front wall, and/or        one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the back        wall.    -   One or two transverse rounded edges on the front wall, and/or        one or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the back        wall.    -   One longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal bevelled edge        on the front wall, and/or one transverse rounded edge and one        transverse bevelled edge on the back wall.    -   One or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the front        wall and one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on        the front wall.    -   Two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on a first side wall        or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the second side        wall.

Where the container comprises one or more bevelled edge, preferably thebevelled edge has a width of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm,preferably between about 2 and about 6 mm. Alternatively, the containermay comprise a multi-bevelled edge formed by parallel creasing orscoring lines that are spaced such that two or more distinct bevels areformed on at least one edge of the container.

Alternatively, the container may have a non-rectangular transversalcross section, for example polygonal such as triangular or hexagonal,semi-oval or semi-circular.

Containers according to the invention find particular application aspacks for elongate smoking articles such as, for example, cigarettes,cigars or cigarillos. It will be appreciated that through appropriatechoices of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the inventionmay be designed for different numbers of conventional size, king size,super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes. Alternatively, otherconsumer goods may be housed inside the container.

Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions, containers according tothe invention may be designed to hold different total numbers of smokingarticles, or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example,through an appropriate choice of the dimensions, containers according tothe invention may be designed to hold a total of between ten and thirtysmoking articles.

The smoking articles may be arranged in different collations, dependingon the total number of smoking articles.

Containers according to the present invention may hold smoking articlesof the same type or brand, or of different types or brands. In addition,both filter-less smoking articles and smoking articles with variousfilter tips may be contained, as well as smoking articles of differinglength (for example, between about 40 mm and about 180 mm), diameter(for example, between about 4 mm and about 9 mm). Preferably, thedimensions of the container are adapted to the length of the smokingarticles, and the collation of the smoking articles. Typically, theouter dimensions of the container are between about 0.5 mm to about 5 mmlarger than the dimensions of the bundle or bundles of smoking articleshoused inside the container.

The length, width and depth of containers according to the invention maybe such that the resultant overall dimensions of the container aresimilar to the dimensions of a typical disposable pack of twentycigarettes.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a height ofbetween about 60 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a height ofbetween about 70 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the height is measuredfrom the bottom wall to the top wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a width ofbetween about 12 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a width of betweenabout 55 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the width is measured from oneside wall to the other side wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a depth ofbetween about 6 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a depth of betweenabout 12 mm and about 25 mm wherein the depth is measured from the frontwall to the back wall of the container.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the container to the depth of thecontainer is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1, morepreferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1, most preferablybetween about 3 to 1 and 5 to 1

Preferably, the ratio of the width of the container to the depth of thecontainer is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1, morepreferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1, most preferablybetween about 2 to 1 and 3 to 1.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid back wall to the heightof the box back wall of the outer sleeve is between about 0 to 1 (lidlocated at the top edge of the container) to about 1 to 1, morepreferably, between about 1 to 5 and about 1 to 10, most preferably,between about 1 to 6 to about 1 to 8.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid front wall of the outersleeve to the height of the box front wall of the outer sleeve isbetween about 1 to 0 (lid covering the entire front wall) to about 1 to10, more preferably, between about 1 to 1 and about 1 to 5, mostpreferably, between about 1 to 2 and about 1 to 3.

The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may beprinted, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufactureror brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information andindicia.

A container according to the present invention may be formed by foldinga blank comprising a box-defining blank portion for forming a boxportion of the container and a lid-defining blank portion for forming alid portion of the container. The box-defining blank portion comprises aback box wall panel for forming a back wall of the box portion and thelid-defining blank portion depends from the box-defining blank portionalong a lid hinge line extending across the back box wall panel. Thelid-defining blank portion comprises a top lid wall panel and a backwall panel for forming a lid top wall and a lid back wall, respectively;a first line of weakness defining an upper edge of the lid back wallpanel and a second line of weakness defining the back edge of the lidtop wall, an edge-defining blank portion extending between the firstline of weakness and the second line of weakness for forming a lid backedge portion that connects the lid top wall and the lid back wall in theassembled container. The first line of weakness and the second line ofweakness are both concave towards the box-defining blank portion of theblank upon the blank in a flat state.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, withreference to the drawings of the accompanying Figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a container for consumerarticles in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the container of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a blank for forming a variant of a containerin accordance with the present invention.

The container 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is essentially rectangularparallelepiped in shape and comprises a box portion 12 and a lid portion14 connected to the box portion 12 along a hinge line 16 extendingacross the back wall of the container 10. The container 10 is formedfrom a single blank. The overall size and construction of the box 12 andlid 14 of the container 10 are substantially the same as that of astandard hinge lid cigarette pack. The box portion 12 comprises a boxfront wall 20, a box back wall 22, a box bottom wall, a box left sidewall 24 and a box right side wall. The lid portion 14 comprises a lidfront wall 26, a lid back wall 28, a lid top wall 30, a lid left sidewall 32 and a lid right side wall. The lid portion 14 is pivotable aboutthe hinge line 16 between a closed position and an open position. In theclosed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid portion 14covers an access opening of the container 10 and the side walls of thehinge lid form extensions of the corresponding side walls of the boxportion, whereas the lid front wall 26 partially overlaps the box frontwall 20. In the open position (not shown), the lid portion 14 is pivotedto project backwardly from the box portion 12 and the access opening atthe top end of the box portion 12 is fully uncovered.

Further, the lid portion 14 comprises a lid back edge portion 34connecting the lid top wall 30 and the lid back wall 28. As illustratedin FIG. 1, the lid back edge portion 34 extends between an upper edge 36of the lid back wall 28 and a back edge 38 of the lid top wall 30. Theupper edge 36 of the lid back wall 28 and the back edge 38 of the lidtop wall are curved. The upper edge 36 of the lid back wall 28 is convextowards the lid portion 14 of the container, and the back edge 38 of thelid top wall 30 is convex towards a front of the container.

The upper edge 36 of the lid back wall 28 and the back edge 38 of thelid top wall 30 are defined by respective lines of weakness, which areformed by laser ablation on the inner surface of the blank from whichthe container 10 is formed.

The box portion 12 and lid portion 14 of a variant of a containeraccording to the present invention may be formed together from thesingle laminar blank 300 shown in FIG. 3. The laminar blank 300 may beassembled and filled using standard apparatus. As can be seen from FIG.3, the laminar blank 300 comprises a box blank portion 3001 for forminga box portion of the container, and a lid blank portion 3002 for forminga lid portion of the container. The box blank portion 3001 depends fromthe lid blank portion 3002 along hinge line 3003.

The box blank portion 3001 comprises a front wall panel 308, a rear wallpanel 312 and a bottom wall panel 309. Two side wall panels 310 extendfrom front wall panel 308, two side wall panels 311 extend from rearwall panel 312, and two box dust flaps 313 extend from side wall panels311. When the box portion of the container is assembled from the boxblank portion 3001, the front wall panel 308 forms the container frontwall, the rear wall panel 312 forms the container rear wall, the sidewall panels 310, 311 overlap to form left and right side containerwalls, and the box dust flaps 313 overlap the bottom wall panel 309 toform the container bottom wall. The side wall panels 310, 311 aresubstantially the same size and shape as each other. When the containeris formed, the side wall panels 310, 311 directly overlie each otherwith their free edges substantially aligned, such that the inner sidewall panel is barely visible. The box dust flaps 313 are smaller thanthe bottom wall panel 309. When the container is formed, the box dustflaps 313 lie inside the bottom wall panel 309. They provide additionalstructural support for the container bottom wall of the container butare not visible from the outside of the container.

The lid blank portion 3002 comprises a front wall panel 314, a rear wallpanel 318 and a top wall panel 320. Two side wall panels 316 extend fromthe front wall panel 314, two side wall panels 317 extend from the rearwall panel 318, and lid dust flaps 319 extend from the side wall panels317. When the lid portion of the container is assembled from the lidblank portion 3002, the front wall panel 314 forms the container frontwall, the rear wall panel 318 forms the container rear wall, the sidewall panels 316, 317 overlap to form right and left container sidewalls, and the lid dust flaps 319 overlap top wall panel 320 to form thelid top wall. The side wall panels 316, 317 are substantially the samesize and shape as each other. When the container is formed, the panels316, 317 directly overlie each other with their free edges substantiallyaligned, such that the inner side wall panel is barely visible. The liddust flaps 319 are smaller than the top wall panel 320. When thecontainer is formed, the lid dust flaps 319 lie inside the top wallpanel 320. They provide additional structural support for the container(lid) top wall, but are not visible from the outside of the container.

Further, the lid blank portion 3002 comprises a first line of weakness322 defining an upper edge of the lid back wall panel 318 and a secondline of weakness 321 defining a back edge of the lid top wall panel 320.In addition, the lid blank portion 3002 comprises an edge-defining blankportion 324 extending between the first line of weakness 321 and thesecond line of weakness 322 for forming a lid back edge portion that, inthe assembled container, connects the lid top wall and the lid backwall.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, each one of the first line ofweakness 321 and the second line of weakness 322 comprises an ablatedline.

A cut line 315 is formed in the box blank portion 3001, such that thecut line 309 intersects a fold line along which one of the side wallpanels 310 depends from the front wall panel 308. In the assembledcontainer, the cut line 315 defines and a retention tab which extendsoutwardly from the box front wall such that, when the lid portion ismoved between the open position and the closed position, the retentiontab interacts with the lid portion.

Further, a cut out 325 is formed in the lid blank portion 3002, at alocation such that, in the assembled container, the retention tabdefined by the cut line 315 interacts with the cut out 325 when the lidportion is moved between the open position and the closed position. Inparticular, in the assembled container, the cut out defines a recessinto which the retention tab may be partially received. Cooperationbetween the retention tab and the cut out helps retain the lid in theclosed position and may be associated with the production of an audibleindication of closing.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the blank for forming a container inaccordance with the present invention may comprise further scoring linesor ablated lines defining modified edge portions of the container, suchas between the box bottom wall panel 309 and the box front wall panel308 and box back wall panel 312, respectively. One more such modifiededge portion is also provided in the embodiment of FIG. 3 between thelid top wall panel 320 and the lid front wall panel 314. By virtue ofthe score lines or ablated lines provided at such locations, when theblank 300 is folded to form a container, rounded edges are obtained. Theprovision of a rounded front top edge of the lid contributes, inconnection with the lid back edge portion, to give a particularlyergonomic shape to containers in accordance with the present invention.

1. A container for consumer articles, the container comprising: a boxportion; and a lid portion connected to the box portion along a hingeline extending across a back wall of the container, the lid portionbeing pivotable about the hinge line between a closed position and anopen position, and comprising a lid top wall, a lid back wall, and a lidback edge portion connecting the lid top wall and the lid back wall;wherein the lid back edge portion extends between an upper edge of thelid back wall and a back edge of the lid top wall; and wherein the upperedge of the lid back wall and the back edge of the lid top wall arecurved, the upper edge of the lid back wall being convex towards a topof the container when the container is in the upright position andviewed from the back of the container, and the back edge of the lid topwall being convex towards a front of the container when the container isin the upright position and viewed from the top of the container.
 2. Thecontainer according to claim 1 comprising a first line of weaknessdefining the upper edge of the lid back wall and a second line ofweakness defining the back edge of the lid top wall, wherein at leastone of the first line of weakness and the second line of weaknesscomprises an ablated line or a creasing line.
 3. The container accordingto claim 2, wherein at least one of the first line of weakness and thesecond line of weakness is defined by a circular arc having constantcurvature.
 4. The container according to claim 3, wherein both the firstline of weakness and the second line of weakness are defined byrespective circular arcs, each circular arc having constant curvature.5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the first line ofweakness and the second line of weakness have the same radius ofcurvature or wherein the radius of curvature of the first line ofweakness is greater than the radius of curvature of the second line ofweakness.
 6. The container according to claim 2, wherein a distancebetween a maximum of the first line of weakness and a maximum of thesecond line of weakness is at least about 1 millimetre.
 7. The containeraccording to claim 2, wherein a distance between a maximum of the firstline of weakness and a maximum of the second line of weakness is lessthan about 15 millimetres.
 8. The container according to claim 2,wherein a distance between a maximum of the first line of weakness andthe box back wall is at least about 0.5 millimetres and a distancebetween the maximum of the first line of weakness and the lid front wallis at least about 2 millimetres.
 9. The container according to claim 2,wherein a distance between a maximum of the second line of weakness andthe box back wall is at least about 1 millimetre and a distance betweenthe maximum of the second line of weakness and the lid front wall is atleast about 1 millimetre.
 10. The container according to claim 1,wherein the lid portion further comprises a lid front wall connected tothe lid top wall by a first modified edge portion forming a bevelled orrounded edge portion of the container.
 11. The container according toclaim 1, wherein the box portion comprises a box front wall and the lidportion comprises a lid front wall such that, when the lid portion is inthe closed position, the lid front wall overlies an upper portion of thebox front wall.
 12. The container according to claim 8 comprising atleast a retention tab extending laterally and outwardly from the boxfront wall, the retention tab interacting with the lid portion of thecontainer when the lid portion is moved between the open position andthe closed position.
 13. The container according to claim 9, wherein thelid portion comprises lid side walls extending between the lid frontwall and the lid back wall; the lid portion further comprising at leasta cut out in one of the lid side walls, the cut out interacting with theretention tab when the lid portion is moved between the open positionand the closed position.
 14. The container according to claim 1, thecontainer comprising smoking articles.
 15. A blank for forming acontainer for consumer articles, the blank comprising: a box-definingblank portion for forming a box portion of the container; a lid-definingblank portion for forming a lid portion of the container; wherein thebox-defining blank portion comprises a back box wall panel for forming aback wall of the box portion and the lid-defining blank portion dependsfrom the box-defining blank portion along a lid hinge line extendingacross the back box wall panel; wherein the lid-defining blank portioncomprises: a top lid wall panel and a top back wall panel for forming alid top wall and a lid back wall, respectively; a first line of weaknessdefining an upper edge of the lid back wall panel and a second line ofweakness defining the back edge of the lid top wall panel, anedge-defining blank portion extending between the first line of weaknessand the second line of weakness for forming a lid back edge portion thatconnects the lid top wall and the lid back wall in the assembledcontainer; wherein the first line of weakness and the second line ofweakness are both concave towards the box-defining blank portion.